Steve Kerr discusses why he's keeping the same starting five from last year: "That lineup was fantastic for us last year"

While many expected new addition Al Horford to immediately step into the Golden State Warriors‘ starting lineup, given its glaring lack of size, head coach Steve Kerr surprised everyone by keeping the starting five that finished last season intact.

This meant that the “Big 3” of Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green were supported by young guns Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski at the start of their preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers. While that quintet had its struggles at the start and trailed 11-8, the Warriors eventually got going and pulled off a 111-103 victory at the Chase Center.

At the postgame press conference, Kerr explained why he elected to keep the same starting lineup intact instead of introducing Horford.

It unlocks Moody

The decision to retain a lineup that has Draymond as its tallest player at 6’6″ raised many eyebrows. However, Kerr explained that putting Moses Moody in the starting five unlocks his two-way skill set. Moody, a 6’5″ wingman, has shown tremendous upside in his first four seasons in the league.

In Golden State’s win over L.A., he led the team in scoring with 19 points, going 7-for-9 from the field with five three-pointers, and was a team-high 21 on the +/- metric.

“What I like about the small lineup is it really empowers Moses to be that disruptor defensively, which he was right away. I know he picked up a couple of fouls, but he had a few deflections. You could feel his presence immediately,” Kerr stated. “And, you know, then he has this great shooting night. I love starting Moses for that reason.”

Kerr also emphasized the importance of having Podziemski in the starting five, given his versatile skill set. The 6’5″ guard is capable of orchestrating the offense, rebounding, hitting open threes and doing the dirty work on defense.

“I also love starting Brandon because he connects the game for us,” Kerr remarked. “I think he’s — you know — he’s another one who was a plus-16 tonight.”

The proof is in the numbers

While many factors can determine victory in the NBA, the proof ultimately lies in the numbers. And according to the stats, Kerr’s undersized yet tenacious starting five went 16-3 in the regular season. In addition, they had a net rating of 16.4, an offensive rating of 120.6 and a defensive rating of 104.2.

“That lineup was fantastic for us last year, so we need to play it at some point in the game,” Kerr stressed.

The silver-haired mentor also clarified that just because they start games off with this quintet, it doesn’t mean that Draymond will spend the bulk of his minutes playing center. While this tactic has proven lethal, especially during the Dubs’ “Death Five” days, it is undoubtedly taxing on the former Michigan State standout.

“It doesn’t mean that Draymond is going to be logging heavy minutes at the five, because, you know, we came off the bench with three centers tonight,” Kerr conveyed. “So if we start that way, it still allows Draymond to get off of the big, hulking matchups.”

With Horford, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Quinten Post in the fold, the Warriors are capable of deploying different looks. However, with Green’s ability to guard all five positions, it is no surprise that Kerr wants to maximize his versatility and unlock more small-ball lineups.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 6, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Steve Kerr discusses why he’s keeping the same starting five from last year: “That lineup was fantastic for us last year”

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